Chapter 744
The enormous palace interior, featuring the most state-of-the-art drainage and pressure system, felt as dry as land above sea level. Tang Zhou and Han Chengbei had already been settled into the palace, and Ye Xingguang was eager to reunite with them.
Before that, however, she needed to meet the elders of the Empire, who effectively held the reins of power.
The Empire had six elders in total, representing the six great clans of the Empire. These clans exerted significant influence as the queen had yet to be crowned. Thus, each of the six clans had dispatched an elder to form a provisional federal government, which temporarily managed all affairs of the Empire.
The six powerful clans were the Geshu, Bai, Ying, Gui, Quan, and Yen Families.
With no alternative, Ye Xingguang boldly seated herself at the place of honour and stretched her arms on the armchair, looking down at the elders of the six clans, all the while crossing a leg in a domineering posture.
Who would have ever imagined that the six princely clans, which once saw her as nothing more than an ant, are now her humble subjects, and fervently discussing her coronation?
Still fresh in Ye Xingguang’s mind was when she was a child, accidentally stumbling into this world and subsequently recognized as a potential heir. Back then, every clan had a prince or princess they supported, and nobody took her seriously. Yet, today, the way all the elders were eyeing her was as though they couldn’t wait to develop close relations with her.
Then Geshu Tang surprised everyone with an audacious proposition, “Although the coronation ceremony is of utmost urgency, filling the inner court is equally pressing. Before marrying the successor of the Vampire Clan, I suggest we select a royal bedmate for the queen. He need not have a distinguished title for now. After the queen is married, we can then grant him a title. Our primary goal should be to find someone to assist in preparing the queen’s marriage.”
Second Elder Ying Shikang immediately added his approval, “I agree with Elder Tang. I have a son, Ying Qiao, who possesses a commanding presence, and grace that rivals an immortal’s. He is considered the Empire’s most handsome man. I am willing to send Ying Qiao into the palace to serve beside our queen. Official title or not, there’s no time to argue over such matters when urgency calls.”
Ye Xingguang, who was sitting authoritatively on the throne ready to impose her authority on the elders, was left speechless.
Great elder Bai Qiuhe, surprisingly, also stepped forward with a self-nomination, “I too have a son, Bai Yalan, who is gentle, cultured, and elegant as an orchid. He is considered the Empire’s top scholar. I am willing to send Bai Yalan into the palace to serve beside our queen. Official title or not, there’s no time to argue over such matters when urgency calls.”
Ye Xingguang was flabbergasted, “!!!!!”
I haven’t even ascended to the throne yet, and you people are already planning to fill my harem with folks from your lineages? Damn it, I’m seriously considering using Tang Zhou’s style of rebuking.
Not wanting to be outdone, the Fourth elder, Quan Ji, put forth his self-recommendation, “Isn’t that a coincidence? While none of my kin may claim to excel in any single realm above all in the Empire, what do you make of me, your highness? I am willing to serve beside the queen. Official title or not, there’s no time to argue over such matters when urgency calls.”
The Fifth and Sixth Elders also wanted to nominate themselves, seeing others hastily pushing forward candidates. But before they could utter a word, Ye Xingguang, who’d endured enough, interrupted them, “Enough! I do indeed need someone to share my bed, and his name is Ye Junqing. If you are truly looking out for my best interests and wishing to warm my bed, I suggest you have him brought to me!”noveldrama